Sunday, March 29, 2009

New Book Roundup: January/February 2009

Zombies, Shakespeare, splinters of the true cross...a strange group of books, I'm as pleased as ever to report.

TOP PICKS

Brooklyn by Colm ToibinI was impressed by Toibin's collection of stories, Mothers and Sons, but I wasn't so interested in The Master, his novel about Henry James. His new novel sounds more appealing to me, and it's getting unanimous praise so far.

The Stalin Epigram by Robert LittellPW: "Veteran espionage novelist Littell trades cold war spies for interwar Russian poets in his wonderful new novel." Kirkus: "Firmly in the tradition of Orwell, Kafka and Koestler - and equally harrowing."

Rag and Bone: A Journey Among the World's Holy Dead by Peter ManseauTour the nutty world of sacred relics. I rather liked PW's take: "You have to love a book with sentences like this: 'Things got rough for the foreskins of Jesus as the Middle Ages matured.'"

Asterios Polyp by David MazzucchelliI'm starting to have high hopes for this graphic novel garnering an unusual amount of acclaim. PW sayd Mazzucchelli has been "a master without a masterpiece" - until now - and compares the work to Pynchon and Gaddis.

FICTION

NOVELSPride and Prejudice and Zombies by Jane Austen and Seth Grahame-SmithOK, I was tantalized the moment I read about this - just like everybody else (it's selling like hotcakes). What isn't clear to me is exactly what's been done to the original text. Some customer reviews claim that select words have been replaced with 'zombie' or 'attack,' but I also gather that whole passages have been written and inserted. Sounds like a smart experiment at best (a remix of sorts?) or a funny, gimmicky joke at worst.

Sag Harbor by Colson WhiteheadI've never warmed up to (MacArthur genius) Whitehead, whose The Intuitionist I found clever but heavy, but I've been told by a friend that the new novel is lighter and more enjoyable. Perhaps I'll give it a try.

All the World's a Grave by John ReedHow did I miss this? A clever mash-up of the Bard's characters and plots, including quotes from the originals. Came out months ago. Potentially awful, true, but also potentially fascinating. (Also potentially 10x the feat Grahame-Smith has pulled off.)

Every Man Dies Alone by Hans FalladaFallada, a German writer who wrote this novel about resistance against the Nazis, died in 1947, and this is the book's first translation into English.

Devil's Garden by Ace AtkinsCrime novel involving Dashiell Hammett and the Fatty Arbuckle scandal. Compared to Ellroy - which must please the author - and set in San Francisco.

Breathers: A Zombie's Lament by S. G. BrowneThe zombie and vampire memes are bigger than ever. Could this "rom-zom-com" fail to be a hit? Actually, yes, so far. Oh those fickle zombie readers and their Regency loving ways.

School for Love by Olivia ManningOne of the latest in the NYRB line of underappreciated classics, this story of a young man's coming of age during World War II when he finds himself in a Jerusalem boarding house presided over by a strict fundamentalist who's been compared to Dickens's Miss Havisham. Intro by Jane Smiley.

Far Bright Star by Robert OlmsteadThe latest from Olmstead sounds almost Cormac McCarthyesque, though I haven't yet seen the comparison made. 1916, an expedition into Mexico to capture Pancho Villa, some brutal action, beautiful prose.

Wandering Stars by Sholem AleichemIn anticipation of the centennial of this classic, a new edition with a foreword by Tony Kushner.

The Great Perhaps by Joe MenoStrong reviews so far for the latest from Meno (Hairstyles of the Damned) - could be a breakthrough book for his career.

SHORT STORIESTunneling to the Center of the Earth: Stories by Kevin WilsonFor some reason, whenever I see the phrase "Southern Gothic" in a description of a book, my pulse races a bit. Reviews make it clear that this collection has a lot more going on that - but they do emphasize the weird side of the ordinary. Oh, yes, I'll be taking a look at this.

Love and Obstacles by Aleksandar HemonHemon's literary star continues to rise, and you can expect this collection to make an impact.

Dear Husband by Joyce Carol OatesA friend recently praised Oates as one of his favorite authors, and the stories I've read have, indeed, been strong.

The Taker and Other Stories by Rubem FonsecaI'm not sure what to make of this from what I've read online, but I had to add it to the list. PW: "fans of South American literature and the macabre should be pleased."

NONFICTION

ARTS and MUSICRipped: How the Wired Generation Revolutionized Music by Greg KotKot is a helluva smart guy - I've seen him speak at an author event as well as on his radio show, not to mention read his work in the Tribune - and if there's one person whose take I'd like to hear on this topic, he's my man.

LITERATURESoul of the Age: A Biography of the Mind of William Shakespeare by Jonathan BateShakespeare books are common, but it's rare that one should receive such praise: "exceptional...Lucid, rich and erudite...essential" (Kirkus); "not only an outstanding scholarly accomplishment but also a pleasure to read" (Library Journal).

Mercury Dressing: Poems by J. D. McClatchyPublishers Weekly praises McClatchy's sixth collection for being his most various to date, and Library Journal praises his ability to combine the "classical with the contemporary." Me, I'm curious about the poem that weaves poetry from the gossip of gay men at the opera.

Beaumarchais by Maurice LeverExtra! Extra! The writer of The Barber of Seville had quite a life. Read all about it!

Installations by Joe BonomoProse poems that have to do with art installations? Scanty info about this at BN, but I once took a class from this poet, and he was a great talent (not that he'd know me from Adam - this was years ago). Absolutely had the entire class entranced. Most definitely worth checking out, and part of the "National Poetry Series."

The Third Reich at War by Richard J. EvansSensational reviews for this last of a trilogy of books on the history of Nazi Germany.

POLITICS/CURRENT EVENTSColumbine by Dave Cullen10 years on, this account sets the record straight on what went down in Columbine. It claims to dispel myths, and from reviews I've read, it does just that. I do wonder why this particular act of horrific violence touched such a cultural nerve when so many other have failed to. A fascinating subject - a new Leopold and Loeb?

Judas: A Biography by Susan GubarNot a religious effort, a history of Judas as a cultural figure. After reading Master and Margarita and being absolutely mesmerized by the Pontius Pilate storyline, this sounds intriguing to me.

What Not to Say: Philosophy for Life's Tricky Moments by Mark VernonMaybe I should pick this up. I never know what to say in awkward situations. Oh, and this review in LJ sucked me in: "its most thought-provoking aspect is the analysis of modern-day trials and tribulations in the context of Greek myths, ancient philosophies, and great literature."

Of Gay Interest:

Ugly Man: Stories by Dennis CooperNew work from Cooper is always worth attention, especially when it includes titles like "The Fifteen Worst Russian Gay Porn Web Sites" and "The Anal-Retentive Line Editor."

Deflowered: My Life in Pansy Division by Jon GinoliNew City Chicago, reviewing the book for the author tour, said the book was humorous and extremely entertaining. Haven't seen any other reviews so far.

Inferno Heights by MitzelI love the Calamus Bookstore (Boston) newsletter, and I'm very curious about Mitzel's new book.